Boy was 'play hunting' before fatal stabbing, court told
Key takeaways
- The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, denies the murder and manslaughter of Aria Thorpe at a house in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on 15 December last year.
- On day one of the trial at Bristol Crown Court, Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the jury the defendant admitted "he had hold of the knife in his hand at the time the fatal wound occurred".
- Tully said they were "play hunting" and the boy had expected Aria to "flinch" when he "jabbed the knife" towards her in an attempt to "scare her".
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Chloe Harcombe,West of Englandand Andy Howard,Bristol Crown Court Family handout Nine-year-old Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound to her chest in December 2025A teenager accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl was playing a "hunting" game with her before she stepped into a knife, a court has heard.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, denies the murder and manslaughter of Aria Thorpe at a house in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on 15 December last year.
On day one of the trial at Bristol Crown Court, Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the jury the defendant admitted "he had hold of the knife in his hand at the time the fatal wound occurred".